2005 Recap:
After having very little success in MMA, Akebono joined All Japan in August of 2005 and stayed the rest of the year. Suffering no singles losses in All Japan and only being pinned once, Akebono finally had some success post-sumo wrestling. If Akebono stays with All Japan (DSE has been pushing for him to return to MMA), he is expected to be a strong title threat in the near future.

2006 Recap:
Akebono stopped wrestling in All Japan in 2006 and made a quick stop to NOAH. That didn't last long, however, and soon Akebono was in New Japan. After wrestling in a tag match against Lesnar, he got a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in March. In the fall he returned to New Japan and he teamed with Choshu in the G1 Tag League.